Belville officials consider attempt to block Leland ABC

Published: Monday, June 23, 2014 at 5:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, June 23, 2014 at 5:46 p.m.

The Belville Board of Commissioners will vote on a resolution tonight asking local legislators not to pass a bill allowing Leland to hold a referendum to create an ABC board and store, according to Belville Mayor Mike Allen.

Allen helped draft the resolution in the hopes it will deter the General Assembly from allowing Leland to make its first foray into the liquor business.

The resolution will be reviewed and considered at the 6:30 p.m. meeting in the Belville town hall chambers at 497 Olde Waterford Way.

Allen said it's his position that the bill is unlawful.

"We are quoting some general statutes ... and might as well lock horns," he said. "It's going to cost the county taxpayers as well as us."

The fear from town officials is that Leland will begin to cut into Belville's revenues.

The town receives about 10 percent of its $1.1 million budget from liquor sales.

Allen's main issue with the bill is an exception Leland received in 2005 to bypass a local law that says any new ABC stores in Brunswick County cannot be within seven miles of a municipality's store.

Leland's bill was sponsored by state Reps. Susi Hamilton, D-New Hanover, and Frank Iler, R-Brunswick. It passed on first reading in the House and has been referred to the Committee on Elections.

<p>The Belville Board of Commissioners will vote on a resolution tonight asking local legislators not to pass a bill allowing <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9971"><b>Leland</b></a> to hold a referendum to create an ABC board and store, according to Belville Mayor Mike Allen.</p><p>Allen helped draft the resolution in the hopes it will deter the General Assembly from allowing Leland to make its first foray into the liquor business.</p><p>The resolution will be reviewed and considered at the 6:30 p.m. meeting in the Belville town hall chambers at 497 Olde Waterford Way.</p><p>Allen said it's his position that the bill is unlawful.</p><p>"We are quoting some general statutes ... and might as well lock horns," he said. "It's going to cost the county taxpayers as well as us."</p><p>The fear from town officials is that Leland will begin to cut into Belville's revenues.</p><p>The town receives about 10 percent of its $1.1 million budget from liquor sales.</p><p>Allen's main issue with the bill is an exception Leland received in 2005 to bypass a local law that says any new ABC stores in Brunswick County cannot be within seven miles of a municipality's store.</p><p>Leland's bill was sponsored by state Reps. Susi Hamilton, D-New Hanover, and Frank Iler, R-Brunswick. It passed on first reading in the House and has been referred to the Committee on Elections.</p><p><i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9907"><b>Jason Gonzales</b></a>: 343-2075</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNews_Jason</i></p>